Results 3,981-4,000 of 7,278 for speaker:Dick Roche

Written Answers — Water and Sewerage Schemes: Water and Sewerage Schemes (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Kildare County Council's revised Preliminary Report and Water Services Pricing Policy Report for the Upper Liffey Valley Sewerage Scheme, which will serve these towns, are under examination in my Department and I expect a decision to issue to the Council shortly. The scheme is included in my Department's Water Services Investment Programme 2005-2007 to commence construction next year....

Written Answers — Water Quality: Water Quality (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 444 and 446 together. Management of public drinking water supplies is the responsibility of the local authorities which have a range of instruments and measures available to them to produce and conserve sufficient stocks to meet anticipated needs and to ensure quality standards. In addition, my Department coordinates and finances a major programme of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: In circular letter PD 1/06, issued on 25 January 2006, my Department requested certain information from planning authorities regarding estates to be taken in charge. A summary of this information, based on replies received from planning authorities, is set out in the following table: C.L PD 1/06: Summary of responses 1 Housing estates to be taken in charge in 2006 587 2 Number of...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I have allocated €19.825m to county councils for 2006 in respect of the Small Public Water and Sewerage Schemes measure of the Rural Water Programme. Responsibility for the operation of the measure, including the prioritisation, selection and implementation of individual schemes, has been devolved to county councils since 1997. Based on a recommendation by the National Rural Water...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 448 and 449 together. In June 2005 I approved funding for the provision of new waste water facilities at seven locations in County Tipperary as a pilot programme to test a range of new, small-scale waste water collection and treatment systems under Irish conditions. The pilot programme, proposed by the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee, will also test...

Written Answers — Fire Service: Fire Service (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I propose to take Questions Nos. 451 and 452 together. The provision of a fire service, including equipment, training and the employment of both full-time and retained fire-fighting personnel, is a statutory function of the individual fire authorities and my Department has no direct role in this matter. My Department supports the local fire authorities through the setting of general policy,...

Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Since the last general election no order has been made in respect of my Department to formally delegate functions to Ministers of State. I refer to the reply to Question No. 230 of 18 May 2006 which sets out the present position in relation to the delegation of functions in my Department.

Written Answers — Heritage Centres: Heritage Centres (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: My Department is involved in ongoing discussions with both the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and the Office of Public Works on the possible development of a visitor centre at Pearse's Cottage in Rosmuc. Important issues have arisen around development costs as well as the future running of such a centre. Further discussions are planned in the near future.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (13 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: All eligible projects submitted under the Social and Community Facilities Capital Scheme will be appraised against the assessment criteria which are set out in guidelines issued to local authorities. When this appraisal process is complete a number of projects will be selected for grant aid. It is envisaged that allocations will be made to successful projects by the middle of this year.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I never get the chance to do so.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: If ever. Deputy Paul McGrath is speaker No. 53.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The Bill does not apply in those circumstances. Offices are not covered.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: No. They are not strategic infrastructure. Nor are housing estates, which could also be built under public private partnerships.

Compensation Payments. (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Whatever about the corncrakes I will not talk about the drainage of the Shannon.

Compensation Payments. (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Shannon callows is designated as a special protection area, SPA, for birds under the EU birds directive. The SPA has an area of some 6,000 hectares running through five counties. In former times the corncrake was widespread in Ireland. However, over several decades, a combination of the intensification of farming practices and, in particular, the...

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I thank Deputy Joe Higgins for raising this issue. He spoke to me privately about the matter. I am used to being pressed by Deputies about the need to put new water infrastructure in place to improve people's living standards and the economic conditions of communities. The situation described by the Deputy is an unusual one, taken against this background. I am particularly conscious that the...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The 15 cent levy on plastic bags, as provided for in the Waste Management (Environmental Levy) (Plastic Bag) Regulations 2001, has led to a dramatic reduction in use of plastic bags with a consequent positive environmental benefit. Plastic shopping bags accounted for 5% of litter arising prior to the introduction of the levy, but for just 0.22% of litter arisings in 2004. An estimated 1.2...

Written Answers — Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: Ireland has had a long-standing concern about nuclear activities at Sellafield since they began in the late 1940's. These concerns were significantly increased following the Windscale fire in 1957 and an incident at Sellafield in 1983 which caused widespread radioactive contamination of the adjacent beaches. In December 1986 Dáil Éireann unanimously agreed a motion calling on the British...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: The local authority sector has exceeded the Government's target of 3% for the employment of people with disabilities in the public sector each year since 2001. Local authorities are required to make every effort to maintain or exceed this level of employment of persons with a disability. The employment target will be reviewed by the Monitoring Committee to be established later this year under...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (14 Jun 2006)

Dick Roche: I understand that the Chief State Solicitor's Office, on behalf of my Department, is in contact with the landowner's solicitor with a view to resolving the issues in this case as soon as possible.